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Saturday, September 3, 2016

Sue Kotchman - Written With Love

Susan Kotchman has always had a love for children and books.
This was first borne out in her career in education and later in her career as
a writer of children’s books with heartwarming stories that teach positive
values. Her experiences as a former elementary school teacher and
principal, as well as a member of a large family, have given her insight into
all kinds of people and behaviors. She writes about real personalities
and actual situations that readers of all ages can relate to, especially
children, classroom teachers and parents.

Kotchman moved to Florida from New York in 1969 with her
parents and five siblings. She discovered writing while a student at Seminole
High School. “I found my passion for writing during a creative writing class
taught by my teacher/coach, Mr. Bennett,” she says. “He inspired my creativity
so very much. I wish I had the opportunity to thank him.” She went on to St.
Petersburg Junior College before earning bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood
Education from the University of South Florida and later a Master’s degree in
Educational Leadership and Administration from Nova University.

Her first assignment was teaching a first grade class. “The
students were so full of life and excitement about learning,” she recalls. “I
loved watching their faces light up when I read to them, and I think this also pushed
me to want to write.” After 17 years of teaching elementary school, Kotchman
became a curriculum specialist before becoming assistant principal and finally
principal of Madeira Beach Elementary School.

In 2008, something unexpected changed the trajectory of her
life. A brain bleed forced her into early retirement. Being a woman of faith, she
decided to turn her misfortune into something positive. “I began writing over
20 years ago with dreams of becoming published,” she says. “I always wanted to
promote literacy and a love of books.” So Kotchman decided to do this by
writing books of her own, books that show children the importance of relationships
and learning. “There are many beautiful
books on the market, but there are also many that shouldn’t be in the hands of
young children,” she explains. “My books are written with heartwarming stories
and incorporate beautiful pictures. They are, so far, realistic fiction.” She
purposely chose topics that the average person wouldn’t think were important
for elementary-aged children.

Her first book, With
Love from Grandma, was written after her mother passed away. She used her
daughter as a character. The book’s underlying purpose is to help children
learn to cope with grief in a positive way. “There are 2.9 million children
being raised by at least one grandparent today,” Kotchman says, “and when they
pass, are these youngsters ready to deal with the loss?” The book is currently
being used in 23 Pinellas County schools.

With Love from Grandma
was followed by a sequel, With Love from
Grandpa. This book came about after a request from a former colleague. “A
principal friend wanted me to write a childlike book with a more challenging
vocabulary for upper-elementary children,” she says. The story follows a
grandfather and grandson on a fishing adventure at the beach. According to
Kotchman, “I want kids to be able to learn about people by noticing their
action, facial expressions and words. I think With Love from Grandpa does all that.” To help get the concept across, she developed
writing activities and discussion topics for teachers to use with their
students.

Kotchman’s third book, Sam,
tells the story of a little monkey who loves to make children happy and can't refuse their gifts. After trying to please his friends, he learns a valuable lesson about taking
care of himself and shares it with them in a special way. Kotchman's newest book, Mason’s This and That Day, (scheduled
for release at the end of September, 2016) is about a young boy who is
constantly changing his mind and can't seem to stay focused on one project. Kotchman
describes her character as “quirky, adorable and so much like many of the students I’ve had experiences with.”
Although it is a picture book, it is appropriate for all grades, because, as she explains, “It's a great way to allow the reader to linger on each
page and enjoy the artwork, which was done by Linda Cowen.”

Kotchman believes that "Life is about relationships and
learning new things." She hopes her books will have a positive effect on
young readers. “Many people don’t look at the content of books and how they may
affect a child’s thinking,” she says. “We must give them books full of stories
they can relate to and help them challenge the content with conversation. And
you can never discount the importance of a strong value base.”

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About Me

I'm currently a columnist for The Island Reporter, a publication serving the South Gulf Beaches in St. Petersburg, Florida. My Florida Authors series features articles based on exclusive interviews with some of the state’s best writers. My “Pride & Joy” column
profiles individuals who give back to their communities through volunteerism.
I'm also the author of two novels."Project June Bug" is the story of a young teacher’s efforts to help a student with ADHD. It has received 12 awards, including Premier Book Awards “2009 Book of the Year.” My latest novel, "Jacqueline,"(published by Anaiah Press) is a middle grade historical based on an experience my dad, a WWII veteran, had while stationed in France shortly after D-day. Four of my stories have appeared in "Chicken Soup for the Soul" editions.
I live on Treasure Island (yes, it's as beautiful as it sounds), with my husband and two rather noisy macaws. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, walking on the beach, and visiting family in New Jersey, where I'm the proud "Grammy" of six beautiful grandchildren (with the pictures to prove it!)